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Description

This error indicates that the International Components for Unicode (ICU) converter, essential for character set handling and text processing within SAP S/4HANA, failed to initialize or open. It typically occurs when the system attempts to process text data requiring specific character conversions or locale settings, leading to issues with data display, import/export, or reporting.

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Error Message

ERR_TEXT_COMMON_CONVERTER_OPEN_FAILED

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Known Causes

4 known causes

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Missing ICU Data Files

Essential ICU library or data files required for character set conversions are either missing from the system directory or have become corrupted.

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Incorrect Locale Settings

The operating system or SAP application's locale settings do not match the expected language or character set configuration, preventing the converter from initializing correctly.

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Permission Issues

The SAP system user lacks the necessary read or execute permissions for the ICU library files or their containing directories.

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SAP Configuration Mismatch

Discrepancies in SAP system configuration regarding character sets or Unicode support that conflict with the underlying ICU library's expectations.

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Solutions

3 solutions available

1. Verify and Reinstall ICU Libraries medium

Ensures the correct and compatible ICU libraries are installed on the SAP system.

1

Identify the SAP kernel version and its corresponding ICU library requirements. Consult SAP Notes related to your S/4HANA version and kernel patch level for specific ICU version recommendations.

2

Check the currently installed ICU libraries on the operating system where the SAP application servers are running. The location can vary depending on the OS (e.g., `/usr/lib64/libicu*` on Linux, or within the SAP installation directory for older setups).

3

If the installed ICU libraries are missing, outdated, or corrupted, download the correct versions from SAP Support Portal or the OS vendor. Ensure they are compatible with your S/4HANA version and kernel.

4

Uninstall any existing, potentially problematic ICU libraries using the OS package manager (e.g., `yum remove libicu*`, `apt-get remove libicu*` on Linux) or by manually removing them if necessary. **Caution:** Ensure no other critical applications on the server depend on these libraries.

5

Install the verified and downloaded ICU libraries. For OS packages, use `yum install <icu_package_name>` or `apt-get install <icu_package_name>`. For manual installation, follow the vendor's instructions.

6

Restart the SAP application servers and the SAP system to ensure the new ICU libraries are loaded and recognized.

2. Update SAP Kernel and Re-link Libraries advanced

Ensures the SAP kernel is up-to-date and correctly linked with the system's ICU libraries.

1

Determine if your SAP kernel is at the minimum required patch level for your S/4HANA version. Check SAP Notes for recommended kernel patch levels and their ICU dependencies.

2

Download the latest compatible SAP kernel patch from the SAP Support Portal. Ensure it includes the necessary ICU components or has updated dependencies.

3

Apply the SAP kernel patch following SAP's standard procedures. This typically involves stopping the SAP system, replacing kernel executables, and then restarting the system.

4

After applying the kernel patch, it's often necessary to re-link the SAP executables with the system's libraries. This is usually an automatic process during the kernel patch application, but can be manually triggered if issues persist. The command for this process depends on the OS and kernel generation tool. For example, on Linux, you might use `make -f Makefile.library` within the kernel directory.

5

Verify the SAP system starts correctly and that the ICU converter error is resolved. Monitor the system logs (SM21, ST11) for any new errors.

3. Configure SAP System Parameters for Character Set medium

Adjusts SAP system parameters to correctly interpret character encoding.

1

Log in to the SAP system with an administrator user (e.g., DDIC).

2

Access transaction `RZ10` to maintain profile parameters.

3

Select the correct profile (e.g., DEFAULT, instance profile).

4

Check for parameters related to character set conversion. Key parameters to review include:

5

`icm/server_port_<xx>`: Ensure the `PROT` parameter is set correctly for the protocol (e.g., HTTP, HTTPS) and consider adding `TIMEOUT` and `MAXCONV` if connection issues are suspected.

6

`zcsa/system_encoding`: This parameter defines the SAP system's default encoding. Ensure it aligns with your database's encoding and your expected character set. Common values are `UTF-8` or `1100` (for UTF-8). If this is incorrect, it might lead to conversion failures. **Caution:** Changing this parameter can have significant implications and requires thorough testing. A restart of the SAP system is mandatory after changing this parameter.

7

`zcsa/data_export`: Defines the encoding for data exports. Ensure it's compatible with the intended recipient system.

8

If any parameters are found to be incorrect or missing, add or modify them. Save the changes and activate the profile.

9

Restart the SAP application servers and the SAP system for the parameter changes to take effect.

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Related Errors

5 related errors

SAP S/4HANA Error 5197: ICU Converter Failure